Sweet, Precious Time

Debbie Bennett was called to be a steadfast wife to husband Thomas and a devoted mother to their children, Christopher, Kelly, and Robin. She has relied on God to get through the hard times her family has faced, and has been grateful that Angela Hospice was there too, when she really needed support.

Robin & Chris

In 1989, at the age of 12, Christopher, her oldest child, was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease called Friedreich's Ataxia (FA). Chris was a smart and funny music-lover, and accomplished artist who was beloved by his family and many friends. By his junior year in high school, he began to use a wheelchair. As with many diseases of the nervous system, there has never been a cure or effective treatment for FA.

Debbie and her family enlisted Angela Hospice's help to care for Chris before he passed away in 2004. He was just 26 years old.

"I didn't know what to expect...hospice comes in and does so much more than care for a sick person, they love on the whole family," Debbie said. "It makes it a sweeter, more precious time for your family as a whole. They can celebrate every minute being together."

"When Chris was in Angela Hospice home care he had a young male nurse who shared music and tattoos with him and became like family." Debbie said, "When Chris was in the Care Center they treated him like a king!"

Debbie, Kelly, Tom, at Robin's college graduation.

Just this year, Angela Hospice was once again called to serve the Bennett family, when Debbie's husband was diagnosed with cancer. Tom's calling was as a history teacher and Pastor of Emmaus Road Bible Church. He also worked at Detroit Diesel for more than 22 years. His children and grandchildren adored him. Tom looked forward to seeing his son again in Heaven. Tom passed away in April. He and Debbie had been married 43 years.

Debbie is thankful that hospice walked alongside her and her family through all this.

After Chris died, Debbie went to one of our bereavement groups, which are funded through the generosity of our donors, and found comfort in sharing with and leaning on other grieving parents. Now, although she still works full time at NorthRidge Church in Plymouth, she finds time to go to an Angela Hospice support group again. She understands the power of talking to others in similar stages of grief.

"The loss of our son and then 14 years later the loss of my husband have been two of the hardest events of my life," she shared, "but even in that pain, my family has been blessed that Angela Hospice was and still is there for us."

Debbie cherishes her family and is proud of the women her two daughters have become.

Tom with Kelly's babies.

Kelly, now 36, is Debbie's middle child. She is healthy, married, and has three beautiful children of her own. Her twin boys were born prematurely and have developmental disabilities not related to FA. She teaches all of her children that they can be proud of who they are and all they can give to the world.

Robin, the youngest child, now 32, also lives with FA. Robin is independent and spirited. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2009 with a degree in creative writing and theatre. She now works at 4th Wall Theatre, where she is an instructor for young people with developmental disabilities. She sits on two disability-related councils advising the governor and State of Michigan. Robin is proud to give voice to the independence and dignity of all people with disabilities, just like her brother taught her.

Ann-Patrice Foley, Angela Hospice Social Worker said, "I think about Debbie and her significant losses, and yet, she continues to bring warmth and love to others. Her deeply empathetic sharing during years of attending our support group for grieving parents (dubbed 'Heartsrtings' by the parents), showed me what a blessing she is to so many!"